Strengths: Serious fell-shoes with excellent grip. Mine have also coped well with long walk-ins on paths or tarmac and have no significant stud wear after nearly 200 miles. Comfortable, and no blisters even after wearing them wet for several days on a wild-camping expedition.
Weaknesses: My hillwalking companion felt compelled to drop me feet-first into every myddy puddle and bog we encountered until the laces were less nauseatingly bright.
Strengths: Fit my feet as if they'd been custom-made. Great grip on most underfoot terrain, though I prefer the Mudroc on wet grass. Unlike some other reviewers, I find them excellent for scrambling, even on wet rock which the Terroc can't cope with. No blisters even after a day on the hills with wet feet. Easy to dry.
Weaknesses: Softer studs wearing down more quickly than I expected
Overall: If I could only have one pair of Inov8s, it would be these.
Strengths: Fantastic detail, with the scientific background presented lucidly but in considerable detail, without skimming over the topic like most running books do. I have a biological science background, so the physiology and biochemistry is well within my comfort zone. With extensive advice about training and human-interest stories about the careers and personalities of some of the great athletes of the past, this is a splendidly rounded book. And it must be better value in terms of words per penny than any other popular running tome.
Weaknesses: Limited advice on practical nutrition means that the book isn't QUITE a complete runners' library on its own.
Overall: A well-written book by an author who is passionate about his subjecct and doesn't underestimate his readers' intelligence.
Strengths: A splendid book. Plenty of good advice on what to do and how to do it. Excellent balance of information and anecdote. And no airbrushed pictures of the authors doing static stretches wearing leotards!
Weaknesses: The section about diet is a bit worthy and assumes all runners are trying to get/keep weight off rather than focusing on the need for adequate fuelling.
Overall: Should be on every runner's bookshelf! With this for easy reference and The Lore of Running for detail, I don't feel I need any other books about the mechanics of training.
'WONDERFULLY WEARABLE. PLEASE, NIKE, DON'T TAMPER WITH IT!'
Strengths: Comfortable from the outset, cushioned yet responsive. After Nike changed the Air Althea in late 2001, I never found another road shoe I liked as much - until this one. A longstanding ITB niggle has settled since I started wearing these for all my runs.
Weaknesses: Expensive, and all that silver makes them look more fashionable than functional.
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